Data processing apparatus and data processing method

ABSTRACT

A data processing apparatus processes input data and outputs processed data. The data processing apparatus includes a data processing section and a real-time learning section. The data processing section processes the input data by a predetermined processing method and outputs the processed data. The real-time learning section controls the data processing section such that the processing method is learned in real time. The data processing section processes the input data by the learned processing method so that the output data is improved as time elapses.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/434,662, filed Nov. 5,1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,513, and based on Japanese priorityapplication 10-317101, filed in Japan on Nov. 9, 1998, the entiretythereof being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to data processing apparatuses and dataprocessing methods, and more particularly, to a data processingapparatus and a data processing method in which a processing method bywhich input data is processed is learned in real time such that theinput data is adaptively processed and output data obtained by theprocessing is improved as time elapses.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 shows a structure of a conventional data processing apparatus.

The input data to be processed is sent to a determination section 91 andprocessing sections 92 ₁ to 92 _(M). The processing sections 92 ₁ to 92_(M) process the input data by processing methods different from eachother and send to a selection section 93.

On the other hand, the determination section 91 controls the selectionsection 93 such that one of the outputs of the processing sections 92 ₁to 92 _(M) is selected according to, for example, the amount of afeature extracted from the input data. The selection section 93 selectsone of the outputs of the processing sections 92 ₁ to 92 _(M) accordingto the control of the determination section 93 and outputs as outputdata.

In other words, the processing sections 92 ₁ to 92 _(M) process theinput data by the processing methods different from each other, thedetermination section 91 selects the most appropriate method among theprocessing methods of the processing sections 92 ₁ to 92 _(M) accordingto the amount of a feature of the input data, and the selection section93 selects the processing result of the input data obtained by theselected processing method.

Therefore, in the data processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, when inputdata is image data and the processing sections 92 ₁ to 92 _(M) serve asfilters having different tap coefficients for filtering the image data,for example, the determination section 91 determines among theprocessing sections 92 ₁ to 92 _(M) a filter having the tap coefficientwhich the designer of the data processing apparatus thinks mostappropriate, according to the amount of a feature of the input data. Theselection section 93 selects the result obtained when the determinedfilter filters the input data, as output data.

As described above, in the conventional data processing apparatus, theprocessing result of the filter having the tap coefficient which thedesigner of the data processing apparatus thinks most appropriate, amongthe processing sections 92 ₁ to 92 _(M) is selected. It is, however, notnecessarily true that processing the input data by such a tapcoefficient is appropriate for the input data.

In other words, in some cases, filtering with the use of a tapcoefficient other than the tap coefficients which the processingsections 92 ₁ to 92 _(M) have is more appropriate for the input data,and as a result, output data improved more is obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to solve theforegoing problem.

The foregoing object is achieved in one aspect of the present inventionthrough the provision of a data processing apparatus for processinginput data and outputting the processed data, including a dataprocessing section for processing the input data by a predeterminedprocessing method and outputting the processed data, and a real-timelearning section for controlling such that the processing method islearned in real time and the data processing section processes the inputdata by the learned processing method, so that the output data isimproved as time elapses.

The foregoing object is achieved in another aspect of the presentinvention through the provision of a data processing method forprocessing input data and outputting the processed data, including adata processing step for processing the input data by a predeterminedprocessing method and outputting the processed data, and a real-timelearning step for controlling such that the processing method is learnedin real time and the input data is processed by the learned processingmethod in the data processing step, so that the output data is improvedas time elapses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a structure of a conventional dataprocessing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example structure of a self-tuningprocessing circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart of a processing method used before an algorithmis changed.

FIG. 3B is a flowchart of a processing method used after the algorithmis changed.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart of a processing method used before processingelements are changed.

FIG. 4B is a flowchart of a processing method used after the processingelements are changed.

FIG. 5 is a view showing input learning data used for learning.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example structure of an NRprocessing circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is a view showing the input data to be processed by the NRprocessing circuit shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 7B is a view showing the reliability of the input data to beprocessed by the NR processing circuit shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the NR processingcircuit shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example structure of an imageprocessing apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a class tap and a prediction tap to beprocessed by the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing of a data processingsection 2 shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing of a real-time learningsection 1 shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example structure of an imageprocessing apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an example structure of a learningprocessing section 53 _(n) shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an example structure of aprediction-coefficient learning section 61 shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an example structure of aclass-classification tuning processing section 62 shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the processing of a real-time learningsection 1 shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 18 is a view showing class taps to be processed by the imageprocessing apparatus shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 19A is a view of a computer into which a program that executesprocessing related to the present invention is installed.

FIG. 19B is a view showing an example storage medium in which a programthat executes processing related to the present invention is stored.

FIG. 19C is a view showing cases in which a program that executesprocessing related to the present invention is distributed to thecomputer through a satellite and a network.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a computer into which a program thatexecutes processing related to the present invention is installed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 shows an example structure of a self-tuning processing circuitaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this self-tuning processing circuit, processing is applied to inputdata, for example, digital data, subjective to the processing, namely,input data to be processed, by the most appropriate processing method,and the result of the processing is output as output data.

Specifically, the self-tuning processing circuit is formed of areal-time learning section 1 or real-time learning means, and a dataprocessing section 2 or data processing means.

The real-time learning section 1 receives learning input data used forlearning the processing method by which the input data to be processedis processed. The real-time learning section 1 controls the dataprocessing section 2 such that the processing method is learned in realtime according to the learning input data and the processing methodobtained as the result of the learning is used for processing, in orderto adaptively process the input data to be processed so that the outputdata is improved as time elapses.

The data processing section 2 adaptively processes the input data to beprocessed by the processing method specified by the real-time learningsection 1, and outputs the result of the processing as output data.

Therefore, since the data processing section 2 processes the input datato be processed by the use of the processing method learned in real timeas described above, the processing is adaptively applied to the inputdata to be processed. The output data obtained by adaptively processingthe input data to be processed is improved as time elapses.

More specifically, the processing method by which the data processingsection 2 processes the input data to be processed is improved byreal-time learning in the real-time learning section 1. The dataprocessing section 2 adaptively processes the input data to be processedby the use of the processing method specified by the real-time learningsection 1. As time elapses or the amount of input data processedincreases, a learning effect gradually appears, and the output dataoutput from the data processing section 2 is improved as time elapses.The improvement of the output data means that the processing method ofthe data processing section 2 is improved so as to be appropriate forprocessing the input data to be processed, as time elapses.

As described above, in the self-tuning processing circuit, theprocessing method for the input data to be processed is learned in realtime and the input data to be processed is processed by the processingmethod obtained as the result of the learning such that the output datais improved as time elapses. In other words, the processing appropriatefor the input data to be processed is applied to itself as learningproceeds. Therefore, the processing which the self-tuning processingcircuit shown in FIG. 2 performs can be called self-tuning processing.

An improvement of the output data means, for example, an image-qualityimprovement when the input data to be processed is an image. Morespecifically, it means an improvement of the S/N ratio or resolution.When the purpose of the processing in the data processing section 2 isan effect such as smoothing or edge emphasis, the improvement of theoutput data means that the effect greatly appears. Therefore, theimprovement of the output data means that the output data is improved sothat output data having a state which the user desires is obtained.

The real-time learning section 1 learns in real time the processingmethod used for processing the input data to be processed, according tothe input learning data input to the section. As shown by dotted linesin FIG. 2, the input learning data is the input data to be processed,input to the data processing section 2, the output data, such as thefrequency characteristics of the input data to be processed, output fromthe data processing section 2, or further, an auxiliary input data sentto the self-tuning processing circuit to perform learning of theprocessing method applied to the input data to be processed. Two or moreof the above data may be used as input learning data.

In the self-tuning processing circuit, the processing method of the dataprocessing section 2 is improved every moment when the real-timelearning section 1 learns in real time. Therefore, the self-tuningprocessing circuit is a so-called change-with-time system. Theimprovement of the processing method can be roughly divided into a casein which the algorithm of the processing is changed and a case in whichthe contents of processing steps constituting the series of processingor elements constituting the processing are changed.

When “x” indicates the input data to be processed and “y” indicatesoutput data, for example, the processing in the data processing section2 is expressed by an expression of y=f(x) with the use of a function “f()”.

When the expression is set to “f(x)=a₀x²+b₀x+c₀,” for example, theprocessing of the data processing section 2 used before an algorithm ischanged can be expressed by a flowchart shown in FIG. 3A.

In a step S1, a₀x² is calculated. In a step S2, b₀x is calculated. Then,in a step S3, a₀x²+b₀x+c₀ is calculated to obtain the output data “y.”

In this case, changing the form of the function “f(x)” corresponds tochanging the algorithm of the processing. More specifically, changingthe function from “f(x)=a₀x²+b₀x+c₀” to “f(x)=(a₀x²+b₀x+c₀)²,” forexample, corresponds to changing the algorithm of the processing.

In this case, the processing of the data processing section 2 after thealgorithm is changed can be expressed, for example, by a flowchart shownin FIG. 3B.

Specifically, in steps S1 to S3, the same processing as that shown inFIG. 3A is executed, and (a₀x²+b₀x+c₀)² is calculated to obtain theoutput data “y.”

As clearly understood from the comparison between the flowchart shown inFIG. 3A and that shown in FIG. 3B, when the algorithm of the processingis changed, the flowchart which expresses the processing is also changedaccordingly.

Changing a coefficient of the function “f(x)” corresponds to changingthe contents of an element constituting the processing. Specifically,for example, changing the function from “f(x)=a₀x²+b₀x+c₀” to“f(x)=a₁x²+b₁x+c₁” corresponds to changing the contents of the elementsconstituting the processing.

In this case, the processing of the data processing section 2 is changedfrom the processing shown by a flowchart in FIG. 4A, which is the sameas that shown in FIG. 3A, to, for example, the processing shown by aflowchart in FIG. 4B.

Specifically, in this case, a₁x² is calculated in a step S1, b₁x iscalculated in a step S2, and then, a₁x²+b₁x+c₁ is calculated in a stepS3 to obtain the output data “y.”

As clearly understood from the comparison between the flowchart shown inFIG. 4A and that shown in FIG. 4B, when the coefficients of the function“f(x)” are changed, the contents of steps constituting the processingare changed accordingly. More specifically, in FIGS. 4A and 4B, thecontents of the step S1 is changed from the calculation of a₀x² to thatof a₁x², the contents of the step S2 is changed from the calculation ofb₀x to that of b₁x, the contents of the step S3 is changed froma₀x²+b₀x+c₀ to a₁x²+b₁x+c₁.

In some cases, the processing method is improved both by changing thealgorithm of the processing and by changing the contents of an elementconstituting the processing.

The functions used in FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 4A and 4B are justexamples used to describe an improvement of the processing method.Whether the output data is actually improved is irrelevant to the factthat the function expressing the processing of the data processingsection 2 is changed as described above.

The self-tuning processing circuit differs, for example, fromconventional digital filters in that the coefficients of the functionf(x) are changed by real-time learning according to newly generatedadaptive coefficients. Specifically, in the conventional digitalfilters, a tap coefficient may be changed according to input data to acoefficient prepared in advance, which is not generated by real-timelearning. In other words, in the conventional digital filters, a tapcoefficient which the system designer thinks is appropriate for inputdata is selected among tap coefficients prepared in advance. A tapcoefficient adaptive to input data is not obtained. As a result, even ifa tap coefficient more appropriate for the input data exists, it cannotbe used unless it is prepared in advance. Therefore, the aboveconventional digital filters are called in some cases systems changing atap coefficient “adaptively,” but accurately speaking, it is not“adaptively” but “selectively”. They are systems in which a tapcoefficient adaptive to input data is not generated but a tapcoefficient selected uniquely against the input data is used.

In contrast, in the self-tuning processing circuit, a tap coefficient isgenerated by real-time learning such that input data is adaptivelyprocessed. In other words, the input data is processed by the tapcoefficient truly most appropriate for the input data. Morespecifically, for example, whereas in the conventional digital filters,for example, when two sets of tap coefficients are prepared in advance,one of the two sets of tap coefficients which the system designer thinksis appropriate for the input data is uniquely selected and used, tapcoefficients used for processing the input data are improved everymoment by real-time learning to obtain tap coefficients more appropriatefor the input data, and processing is executed with the use of such tapcoefficients in the self-tuning processing circuit. Therefore,processing adaptive to the input data is performed.

In addition, the self-tuning processing circuit differs fromconventional processing which applies tuning processing to input databut output data is not improved every moment, such as adaptive dynamicrange coding (ADRC) processing, in that output data is improved everymoment. Specifically, in the ADRC processing, the maximum value MAX andthe minimum value MIN of the pixel values of pixels constituting a blockin an image are detected, and the pixel values of the pixelsconstituting the block are re-quantized in K bits according to a localdynamic range DR obtained by MAX−MIN in the block. More specifically,the minimum value MIN is subtracted from the value of each pixel in theblock and the difference is divided by DR/2^(K) for re-quantization.Therefore, tuning processing is applied to input data in that thequantization step DR/2^(K) of the pixel values is obtained according tothe block dynamic range DR and the pixel values are quantized by thequantization step DR/2^(K), but output data obtained as the quantizationresults is not improved every moment.

The real-time learning section 1 uses all the sample values of inputlearning data obtained so far in order to improve the output data astime elapses in real-time learning at the current time “t.” The outputdata of the data processing section 2 may be more effectively improvedif the real-time learning section 1 gives a weight to sample valuesobtained at positions close in a time manner to the current time “t” ofthe input learning data and does not use sample values obtained atpositions far from the current time much. Therefore, the real-timelearning section 1 can execute real-time learning such that theabove-described weight is given to input learning data, namely, thesample values of input learning data obtained at positions in a timemanner far from the current time “t” are ignored according to the ratescorresponding to the degrees of the time differences. Alternatively, itis possible that the real-time learning section 1 uses only inputlearning data obtained within a predetermined time period from thecurrent time “t.” Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, thereal-time learning section 1 can use only input learning data withinfour samples from the current time “t” for real-time learning at thecurrent time “t.” This can be implemented by applying a weight of zeroto input learning data away from the current time “t” by five or moresample periods.

In real-time learning at the current time “t,” it is also possible thatthe real-time learning section uses only sample values within apredetermined range from the sample value of the input learning dataobtained at the current time “t.” Specifically, for example, in FIG. 5,a sample value such as that of the learning data obtained at the time“t−2” has a magnitude largely different from that of the sample value ofthe input learning data obtained at the current time “t” may adverselyaffect the learning in the real-time learning section 1. Therefore, itis possible not to use, namely, to give a weight of zero to, a samplevalue having a magnitude largely different from that of the inputlearning data obtained at the current time “t” in real-time learning atthe current time “t” in the real-time learning section 1.

FIG. 6 shows an example structure of a noise reduction (NR) processingcircuit 100 to which the self-tuning processing circuit shown in FIG. 2is applied, according to an embodiment.

When input data having noise is input to this NR processing circuit 100,the NR processing circuit applies self-tuning processing to the inputdata to effectively remove the noise from the input data and outputsoutput data.

Specifically, for example, to simplify a description, a case is examinedin which input data having a constant true value and on which noisefluctuating in time is superposed, as shown in FIG. 7A, is averaged toremove the noise fluctuating in time. The noise is effectively removedby setting a weight for input data having a large noise level, namely,having a low S/N ratio, to a small value and by setting a weight forinput data having a small noise level, namely, having a high S/N ratio,to a large value.

In the NR processing circuit 100 shown in FIG. 6, as the evaluationvalue of input data, the degree of reliability indicating how the inputdata is close to the true value, which is the reliability of the inputdata against the true value, for example, shown in FIG. 7B, is obtainedby real-time learning. The NR processing circuit 100 calculates itsaverage while the weight corresponding to the reliability is applied tothe input data, to effectively remove the noise.

Therefore, since the NR processing circuit 100 shown in FIG. 6 obtains aweighted average of the input data by the use of the weightcorresponding to its reliability and outputs it as output data. Theoutput data y(t) is obtained from the following expression, where x(t),y(t), and α_(x(t)) indicate the input data, the output data, and thereliability of the input data at the time “t” in the NR processingcircuit 100, respectively.

$\begin{matrix}{{y\mspace{11mu}(t)} = \frac{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{t}\;{\alpha_{x\mspace{11mu}{(i)}}x\mspace{11mu}(i)}}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{t}\;\alpha_{x\mspace{11mu}{(i)}}}} & (1)\end{matrix}$It is assumed here that a larger weight is given to the higher degree ofreliability α_(x(t)) of input data.

The output data “y(t−1),” obtained one sample before the current time“t,” is calculated as follows from the expression (1).

$\begin{matrix}{{y\mspace{11mu}( {t - 1} )} = \frac{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{t}\;{\alpha_{x\mspace{11mu}{(i)}}x\mspace{11mu}(i)}}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{t - 1}\;\alpha_{x\mspace{11mu}{(i)}}}} & (2)\end{matrix}$

As for the output data y(t), the degree of reliability α_(y(t))indicating how the output data y(t) is close to the true value, which isthe reliability of the output data y(t) against the true value, isintroduced as an evaluation value of the output data y(t). Thereliability α_(y(t−1)) of the output data y(t−1), obtained one samplebefore the current time “t,” is defined by the following expression.

$\begin{matrix}{\alpha_{y\mspace{11mu}{({t - 1})}} = {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{t - 1}\;\alpha_{x\mspace{11mu}{(i)}}}} & (3)\end{matrix}$

In this case, the output data “y(t)” and its reliability α_(y(t)) areexpressed as follows with the use of the expressions (1) to (3).

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{{y\mspace{11mu}(t)} = \frac{\overset{\alpha_{y\mspace{11mu}{({i - 1})}}y\mspace{11mu}{({t - 1})}}{\overset{︷}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{t - 1}\;{\alpha_{x\mspace{11mu}{(i)}}x\mspace{11mu}(i)}}} + {\alpha_{x\mspace{11mu}{(t)}}x\mspace{11mu}(t)}}{\underset{\alpha_{y\mspace{11mu}{({t - 1})}}}{\underset{︸}{\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{t - 1}\;\alpha_{x\mspace{11mu}{(i)}}}} + \alpha_{x\mspace{11mu}{(t)}}}} \\{= \frac{{\alpha_{y\mspace{11mu}{({t - 1})}}y\mspace{11mu}( {t - 1} )} + {\alpha_{x\mspace{11mu}{(t)}}x\mspace{11mu}(t)}}{\alpha_{y\mspace{11mu}{({t - 1})}} + \alpha_{x\mspace{11mu}{(t)}}}} \\{\alpha_{y\mspace{11mu}{(t)}} = {\alpha_{y\mspace{11mu}{({t - 1})}} + \alpha_{x\mspace{11mu}{(t)}}}}\end{matrix} & (4)\end{matrix}$

The weight used to obtain the output data y(t) at the time “t” isindicated by w(t), and defined by the following expression.w(t)=α_(y(t-1))/(α_(y(t-1))+α_(x(t)))  (5)

From the expression (5), the following expression is satisfied.1−w(t)=α_(x(t))/(α_(y(t-1))+α_(x(t)))  (6)

With the use of the expressions (5) and (6), the output data y(t) in theexpression (4) can be expressed in the following way by a weightedaverage obtained by multiplications and an addition.y(t)=w(t)y(t−1)+(1−w(t))x(t)  (7)

The weight w(t) (and 1−w(t)) used in the expression (7) can be obtainedfrom the expression (5) with the use of the reliability α_(y(t-1)) ofthe output data y(t−1) obtained one sample before and the reliabilityα_(x(t)) of the current input data x(t). The reliability α_(y(t)) of thecurrent output data y(t) in the expression (4) can also be obtained withthe use of the reliability α_(y(t-1)) of the output data y(t−1) obtainedone sample before and the reliability α_(x(t)) of the current input datax(t).

When the reliability α_(x(t)) of the input data x(t) and the reliabilityα_(y(t)) of the output data y(t) are expressed, respectively, by thereciprocals of the corresponding dispersions σ_(x(t)) ² or σ_(y(t)) ²,in other words, when the reliability α_(x(t)) and the reliabilityα_(y(t)) are set as follows,α_(x(t))=1/σ_(x(t)) ²α_(y(t))=1/σ_(y(t)) ²  (8)the weight w(t) in the expression (5) can be expressed by the followingexpression.w(t)=σ_(x(t)) ²/(σ_(y(t-1)) ²+σ_(x(t)) ²)  (9)

In this case, 1−w(t) defined by the expression (6) can be expressed bythe following expression.1−w(t)=σ_(y(t-1)) ²/(σ_(y(t-1)) ²+σ_(x(t)) ²)  (10)

A term, σ_(y(t)) ², can be expressed by the following expression withthe use of the expressions (4), (8), and (9).σ_(y(t)) ² =w(t)²σ_(y(t-1)) ²+(1−w(t))²σ_(x(t)) ²  (11)

The NR processing circuit 100 shown in FIG. 6 learns the weight w(t) inreal time according to the expression (5) and 1−w(t) in real timeaccording to the expression (6) with the input data x(t) and the outputdata y(t) being used as input learning data. The NR processing circuit100 calculates the weighted average of the output data y(t−1) obtainedone sample before and the current input data x(t) according to theexpression (7) with the use of the weight w(t) obtained as a result ofreal-time learning to adaptively process the input data x(t) so that thenoise included in the input data x(t) is effectively removed. With theseoperations, the S/N ratio of the output data y(t) output from the NRprocessing circuit 100 is improved as time elapses.

A latch circuit 11 ₁ receives input data. The latch circuit 11 ₁ latchesthe received input data, for example, in synchronization with the timingwhen the input data is received, and sends it to a subsequent-stagelatch circuit 11 ₂ and to an input reliability calculation section 12.The latch circuit 11 ₂ and a latch circuit 11 ₃ latch the input dataoutput from the previous-stage latch circuits 11 ₁ and 11 ₂, and send itto the subsequent-stage latch circuits 11 ₃ and 11 ₄, respectively, andto the input reliability calculation section 12, in the same way as thelatch circuit 11 ₁. The latch circuit 11 ₄ latches the input data outputfrom the previous-stage latch circuit 11 ₃ and sends it to the inputreliability calculation section 12.

The input reliability calculation section 12 receives the same inputdata as that sent to the latch circuit 11 ₁ in addition to the inputdata latched by the latch circuits 11 ₁ to 11 ₄. Therefore, when inputdata x(t) is sent to the latch circuit 11 ₁ and to the input reliabilitycalculation section 12, the input reliability calculation section 12also receives input data x(t−1) to x(t−4) latched by the latch circuits11 ₁ to 11 ₄. The input reliability calculation circuit 12 calculates,for example, the dispersion of input data from the input data x(t) tox(t−4), and sends the reciprocal of the dispersion as the reliabilityα_(x(t)) (that is, an input reliability) of the input data x(t) to anoutput reliability calculation section 13 and to a weight calculationsection 15.

The output reliability calculation section 13 obtains the reliabilityα_(y(t)) (that is, an output reliability) of the output data y(t)according to the expression (4) with the use of the input reliabilityα_(x(t)) sent from the input reliability calculation section 12 and theoutput of a latch circuit 14, and outputs it to the latch circuit 14.

The latch circuit 14 latches the output reliability α_(y(t)) sent fromthe output reliability calculation section 13, for example, insynchronization with latching of the input data x(t), and sends it tothe output reliability calculation section 13 and the weight calculationsection 15. Therefore, the latch circuit 14 sends the output reliabilityα_(y(t-1)) obtained one sample before, to the output reliabilitycalculation section 13 and the weight calculation section 15.

The weight calculation section 15 obtains a weight w(t) according to theexpression (5) with the use of the input reliability α_(x(t)) sent fromthe input reliability calculation section 12 and the output reliabilityα_(y(t-1)) sent from the latch circuit 14, and sends it to a weightingsection 16 and an operation section 17.

The latch circuits 11 ₁ to 11 ₄, the input reliability calculationsection 12, the output reliability calculation section 13, the latchcircuit 14, and the weight calculation section 15, described above,correspond to the real-time learning section shown in FIG. 2.

The weighting section 16 multiplies the weight w(t) sent from the weightcalculation section 15 by the output of a latch circuit 20, and sendsthe multiplication result to an operation section 19. The operationsection 17 subtracts the weight w(t) sent from the weight calculationsection 15, from one, and sends the subtraction result, 1−w(t), to aweighting section 18. The weighting section 18 receives the input datax(t) as well as the output of the operation section 17. The weightingsection 18 multiplies the input data x(t) by the output of the operationsection 17, and sends the multiplication result to the operation section19. The operation section 19 adds the outputs of the weighting sections16 and 18, outputs the addition result as output data y(t), and sends itto the latch circuit 20. The latch circuit 20 latches the output data ofthe operation section 19, for example, in synchronization with latchingof the input data x(t), and sends it to the weighting section 16.

The weighting section 16, the operation section 17, the weightingsection 18, the operation section 19, and the latch circuit 20,described above, correspond to the data processing section 2 shown inFIG. 2, and calculate the weighted average according to the expression(7) and outputs it as the output data y(t).

The operation of the NR processing circuit 100 shown in FIG. 6 will bedescribed below by referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 8. Theoperation of the NR processing circuit 100 and the control of eachfunctional block is achieved by a controller not shown. Alternatively,the entire NR processing algorithm may be implemented by software.

First, the input data x(t) is input to the latch circuit 11 ₁, the inputreliability calculation section 12, and the weighting section 18 in astep S11.

In the next step S12, the input reliability calculation section 12obtains the input reliability α_(x(t)).

More specifically, the latch circuit 111 latches the received input datain synchronization with the timing when the input data is received, andsends it to the subsequent-stage latch circuit 11 ₂ and to the inputreliability calculation section 12. The latch circuit 11 ₂ and the latchcircuit 11 ₃ latch the input data output from the previous-stage latchcircuits 11 ₁ and 11 ₂ and send the data to the subsequent-stage latchcircuits 11 ₃ and 11 ₄ and to the input reliability calculation section12, respectively, in the same way as the latch circuit 11 ₁. The latchcircuit 11 ₄ latches the input data output from the previous-stage latchcircuit 11 ₃ and sends it to the input reliability calculation section12. Therefore, the input reliability calculation section 12 receives theinput data x(t−1) to x(t−4) from the latch circuits 11 ₁ to 11 ₄,respectively, at the same time when it receives the input data x(t). Theinput reliability calculation section 12 uses the input data x(t) tox(t−4) to obtain the input reliability α_(x(t)) and sends it to theoutput reliability calculation section 13 and to the weight calculationsection 15, as described above.

At the timing when the input reliability calculation section 12 sendsthe input reliability α_(x(t)) to the weight calculation section 15, thelatch circuit 14 latches the output reliability α_(y(t-1)) output fromthe output reliability calculation section 13 one sample before. In astep S13, the weight calculation section 15 uses the input reliabilityα_(x(t)) sent from the input reliability calculation section 12 and theoutput reliability α_(y(t-1)) latched by the latch circuit 14 to obtainthe weight w(t) according to the expression (5). This weight w(t) issent to the weighting section 16 and the operation section 17.

The weighting section 16, the operation section 17, the weightingsection 18, the operation section 19, and the latch circuit 20 use theweight (t) output from the weight calculation section 15 to calculatethe weighted average of the input data x(t) and the output data y(t−1)obtained one sample before, according to the expression (7).

Specifically, the weighting section 16 multiplies the output of thelatch circuit 20 by the weight w(t) sent from the weight calculationsection 15, and sends the multiplication result to the operation section19. The latch circuit 20 latches the output data y(t−1) which theoperation section 19 outputs the last time, at the timing when theweighting calculation section 15 outputs the weight w(t). Therefore, theweighting section 16 obtains the product w(t)y(t−1) of the output datay(t−1) and the weight w(t) and sends it to the operation section 19.

The operation section 17 subtracts the weight w(t) sent from the weightcalculation section 15, from one, and sends the subtraction value,1−w(t), to the weighting section 18. The weighting section 18 multipliesthe output, 1−w(t), of the operation section 17 by the input data x(t)and sends the multiplication result, (1−w(t))x(t), to the operationsection 19.

The operation section 19 adds the output, w(t)y(t−1), of the weightingsection 16 and the output, (1−w(t))x(t), of the weighting section 18. Inother words, with the use of the weight w(t) output from the weightcalculation section 15, the weighted average of the input data x(t) andthe output data y(t−1) obtained one sample before is calculatedaccording to the expression (7).

This weighted average is output as the output data y(t) in a step S15.The output data y(t) is sent to the latch circuit 20 and latched.

In the next step S16, it is determined by the controller whether theinput data to be processed still exists. When it is determined in thestep S16 that the input data to be processed still exists, the procedureproceeds to a step S17 and the output reliability calculation section 13updates the output reliability. Specifically, the output reliabilitycalculation section 13 adds the input reliability α_(x(t)) calculated inthe step S12 by the input reliability calculation section 12 and theoutput reliability α_(y(t-1)) obtained one sample before and latched bythe latch circuit 14, according to the expression (4) to obtain thecurrent output reliability α_(y(t)), and sends it to the latch circuit14. Then, the procedure returns to the step S11, and the same processingis repeated with the next input data.

On the other hand, when it is determined by the controller in the stepS16 that the input data to be processed does not exist, the processingis terminated.

As described above, the weight w(t) is calculated by the use of theinput reliability α_(x(t)) of the current input data x(t) and the outputreliability α_(y(t-1)) obtained one sample before. Then, according tothis weight w(t), the weighted average of the current input data x(t)and the output data y(t−1) obtained one sample before is calculated, andoutput as the output data y(t) serving as the processing result of theinput data x(t). The output reliability α_(y(t)) of the output data y(t)is then calculated by adding the current input reliability α_(x(t)) tothe output reliability α_(y(t-1)) obtained one sample before. In thesame way, the next input data x(t+1), x(t+2), . . . is sequentiallyprocessed. Therefore, the weight w(t) is learned such that portionshaving high noise levels are not much taken into account and portionshaving low noise levels are sufficiently taken into account in previousinput data. In other words, the NR processing circuit 100 obtains aweight w(t) adaptive to input data, and as a result, improves the outputdata every moment as learning of the weight w(t) proceeds. The NRprocessing circuit 100 is configured such that output data obtained byeffectively removing noise from the input data is output.

In the above-described case, the reciprocal of the dispersion of theinput data, obtained with the use of the past four samples and thecurrent input data, is used as the input reliability α_(x(t)). The inputreliability α_(x(t)) can be, for example, the reciprocal of the errorsquare of the current input data against the average of input data,obtained with the use of the past four samples and the current inputdata, or the sum of the reciprocal of the dispersion and that of theerror square. Instead of the past four samples, all input data may beused for calculation.

The NR processing circuit 100 shown in FIG. 6 can also be applied, forexample, to a case in which noise is removed from image data or sounddata.

In the above embodiment, the NR processing circuit 100 shown in FIG. 6has been described in the viewpoint of noise reduction. The NRprocessing circuit 100 shown in FIG. 6 has a self-tuning processingnature, in which a processing method, specifically, a weight coefficientw(t), is learned in real time and the processing is executed by theprocessing method obtained as a result of the learning such that inputdata is adaptively processed to improve output data as time elapses, andtherefore the input data is adaptively processed. The NR processingcircuit 100 shown in FIG. 6 can also achieve, for example, waveformshaping most appropriate for input data

In the above case, the NR processing circuit 100 multiplies the outputdata y(t−1) by the weight w(t) and the input data x(t) by the weight,1−w(t), in the expression (7) to obtain the output data y(t). It is alsopossible that either the output data y(t−1) or the input data x(t) ismultiplied by a weight to obtain an output data y(t).

FIG. 9 shows an example structure of an image processing apparatus 200to which the self-tuning processing circuit shown in FIG. 2 is applied,according to an embodiment.

In this image processing apparatus 200, class classification tuningprocessing is performed to convert an SD (standard density) image to anHD (high density) image.

The class classification tuning processing is formed of classclassification processing and tuning processing. Data is classified intoclasses according to its structure or nature in the class classificationprocessing, and the tuning processing is applied to each class. Thetuning processing is performed in the following way.

Specifically, in the tuning processing, for example, an SD image islinearly coupled with predetermined prediction coefficients to obtainthe prediction values of the pixels of an HD image. With this operation,a high-frequency component not included in the SD image is recovered.

More specifically, for example, the prediction value E[y] of the pixelvalue “y” of a pixel, namely, an HD pixel, constituting the HD image isobtained by a linear first-order coupling model defined by linearcoupling of the pixel values, namely, learning data, x₁, x₂, . . . ofseveral SD pixels, that is, pixels constituting the SD image, and thepredetermined prediction coefficients w₁, w₂, . . . . The predictionvalue E[y] can be expressed by the following expression.E[y]=w ₁ x ₁ +w ₂ x ₂+  (12)

To generalize the expression (12), when a matrix “W” formed of a set ofprediction coefficients “w,” a matrix “X” formed of a set of learningdata, and a matrix “Y′” formed of a set of prediction values E[y] aredefined in the following expressions,

$\begin{matrix}{X = \begin{bmatrix}x_{11} & x_{12} & \ldots & x_{1n} \\x_{21} & x_{22} & ... & x_{2n} \\\ldots & \ldots & \ldots & \ldots \\x_{m\; 1} & x_{m\; 2} & \ldots & x_{mn}\end{bmatrix}} \\{{W = \begin{bmatrix}w_{1} \\w_{2} \\\ldots \\w_{n}\end{bmatrix}},} \\{Y^{\prime} = \begin{bmatrix}{E\mspace{11mu}\lbrack y_{1} \rbrack} \\{E\mspace{11mu}\lbrack y_{2} \rbrack} \\\ldots \\{E\mspace{11mu}\lbrack y_{m} \rbrack}\end{bmatrix}}\end{matrix}$the following observation equation is satisfied.XW=Y′  (13)

The least squares are applied to this observation equation to obtainprediction values E[y] close to the pixel values “y” of the HD pixelsserving as master data. When a matrix “Y” formed of a set of the truepixel values “y” of HD pixels serving as master data and a matrix “E”formed of a set of the remainders “e” of the prediction values E[y]against the pixel values “y” of the HD pixels are defined in thefollowing way,

${E = \begin{bmatrix}e_{1} \\e_{2} \\\ldots \\e_{m}\end{bmatrix}},\mspace{14mu}{Y = \begin{bmatrix}y_{1} \\y_{2} \\\ldots \\y_{m}\end{bmatrix}}$the following remainder equation is satisfied from the expression (13).XW=Y+E  (14)

In this case, prediction coefficients w_(i) used to obtain predictionvalues. E[y] close to the pixel values “y” of the HD pixels are obtainedwhen the following error square is made minimum.

$\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}\; e_{i}^{2}$

Therefore, when the result obtained by differentiating the above errorsquare by the prediction coefficient w_(i) is zero, in other words, theprediction coefficient w_(i) which satisfies the following expression isthe most appropriate value for obtaining the prediction values E[y]close to the pixel values “y” of the HD pixels.

$\begin{matrix}{{{e_{1}\frac{\partial e_{1}}{\partial w_{i}}} + {e_{2}\frac{\partial e_{2}}{\partial w_{i}}} + \ldots + {e_{m}\frac{\partial e_{m}}{\partial w_{i}}}} = {0\mspace{11mu}( {{i = 1},2,\ldots\mspace{11mu},n} )}} & (15)\end{matrix}$

When the expression (14) is differentiated by the prediction coefficientw_(i), the following expression is satisfied.

$\begin{matrix}{{\frac{\partial e_{i}}{\partial w_{1}} = x_{i\; 1}},{\frac{\partial e_{i}}{\partial w_{2}} = x_{i\; 2}},\ldots\mspace{11mu},{\frac{\partial e_{i}}{\partial w_{n}} = x_{in}},\mspace{11mu}( {{i = 1},2,\ldots\mspace{11mu},m} )} & (16)\end{matrix}$

From the expressions (15) and (16), the expression (17) is obtained.

$\begin{matrix}{{{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}\;{e_{i}x_{i\; 1}}} = 0},{{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}\;{e_{i}x_{i\; 2}}} = 0},{{\ldots\mspace{11mu}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}\;{e_{i}x_{in}}}} = 0}} & (17)\end{matrix}$

In addition, when the relationships among the learning data “x,” theprediction coefficients “w,” the master data “y,” and the remainders “e”in the remainder equation (14) are taken into account, the followingnormal equations are obtained from the expression (17).

$\begin{matrix}\{ \begin{matrix}{{{( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{x_{i\; 1}x_{i\; 1}}} )w_{1}} + {( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{x_{i\; 1}x_{i\; 2}}} )w_{2}} + \ldots + {( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{x_{i\; 1}x_{i\; n}}} )w_{n}}} = ( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{x_{i\; 1}y_{i}}} )} \\{{{( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{x_{i\; 2}x_{i\; 1}}} )w_{1}} + {( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{x_{i\; 2}x_{i\; 2}}} )w_{2}} + \ldots + {( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{x_{i\; 2}x_{i\; n}}} )w_{n}}} = ( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{x_{i\; 2}y_{i}}} )} \\\cdots \\{{{( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{x_{i\; n}x_{i\; 1}}} )w_{1}} + {( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{x_{i\; 1}x_{i\; 2}}} )w_{2}} + \ldots + {( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{x_{i\; n}x_{i\; n}}} )w_{n}}} = ( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{m}{x_{i\; n}y_{i}}} )}\end{matrix}  & (18)\end{matrix}$

When the learning data “x” and the master data “y” of appropriatenumbers are prepared, the normal equations (18) of the same number asthat of the prediction coefficients “w” to be obtained can beformulated. Therefore, by solving the equations (18), the mostappropriate prediction coefficient “w” is obtained. To solve theequations (18), it is required that a matrix formed of coefficientsapplied to the prediction coefficients “w” be regular. It is possible touse, for example, a sweep off method (Gauss-Jordan deletion method) tosolve the equations (18).

The most appropriate prediction coefficient “w” is obtained, asdescribed above, and prediction values E[y] close to the pixel values“y” of HD pixels are obtained from the expression (12) by the use of theprediction coefficient “w” in the tuning processing.

The tuning processing differs from interpolation processing in that acomponent not included in the SD image but included in the HD image isreproduced. The tuning processing seems to be identical withinterpolation processing using a so-called interpolation filter if onlythe expression (12) is viewed. Since the prediction coefficients “w”corresponding to the tap coefficients of the interpolation filter areobtained by so-called learning with the use of the master data “y,” acomponent included in the HD image can be reproduced. In other words, ahigh-resolution image can be easily obtained. Therefore, it can be saidthat the tuning processing has a so-called image creation effect,namely, a resolution improvement effect.

The image processing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 9 converts an SD imageto an HD image by the tuning processing described above.

In other words, an SD image is input to the image processing apparatus200 as input data to be processed and an HD image is input as inputlearning data. The SD image serving as the input data to be processedcan be an SD image broadcasted in TV broadcasting. The HD image servingas input learning data can be an HD image to be broadcasted togetherwith an SD image through a satellite. In addition, the HD image servingas input learning data can be an HD image obtained by applying theabove-described class classification tuning processing to an SD image.It is preferred that the contents of the SD image are identical withthose of the HD image.

In FIG. 9, a frame memory 21, a thinning-out circuit 22, a frame memory23, a class-tap generation circuit 24, a prediction-tap generationcircuit 25, a class classification circuit 26, an adder 27, aprediction-tap memory 28, an adder 29, a master-data memory 30, and anoperation circuit 31 correspond to the real-time learning section 1shown in FIG. 2. A frame memory 41, a class-tap generation circuit 42, aprediction-tap generation circuit 43, a class classification circuit 44,a coefficient RAM 45, and a prediction operation circuit 46 correspondto the data processing section 2 shown in FIG. 2. An HD image serving asinput learning data is input to the frame memory 21 in the real-timelearning section 1, and an SD image serving as input data to beprocessed is input to the frame memory 41 of the data processing section2.

In the data processing section 2, the frame memory 41 temporarily storesthe SD image serving as the input data to be processed input to theframe memory 41, for example, in units of frames.

The class-tap generation circuit 42 extracts as SD pixels disposedaround an HD pixel, that is a focused pixel, for which a predictionvalue is to be obtained by tuning processing, for example, a block, thatis, a processing block, formed of SD pixels disposed within apredetermined distance from the focused pixel, from the SD image, andsends it to the class classification circuit 44 as a class tap to beused in class classification processing.

In other words, for example, the class-tap generation circuit 42extracts a class tap formed of four-by-four SD pixels indicated by ◯marks around the focused pixel from the SD image, as shown in FIG. 10,and outputs it to the class classification circuit 44 as a class tap forthe focused pixel. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the SD image hashalf the number of pixels of the HD image in each of the horizontal andvertical directions.

The prediction-tap generation circuit 43 extracts SD pixels to be usedfor obtaining the prediction value of the focused pixel in theprediction operation circuit 46, and sends them to the predictionoperation circuit 46 as a prediction tap. In other words, for example,the prediction-tap generation circuit 43 extracts the same SD pixels asthose extracted as the class tap by the class-tap generation circuit 42from the SD image as a prediction tap, as shown in FIG. 10, and sendsthem to the prediction operation circuit 46.

In this embodiment, the class tap and the prediction tap are formed ofthe same SD pixels. The class tap and the prediction tap are, however,not necessarily formed of the same SD pixels.

The class classification circuit 44 class-classifies the focused pixelaccording to the class tap sent from the class-tap generation circuit42, and sends the class obtained by the class-classification to thecoefficient RAM 45 as an address. More specifically, the classclassification circuit 44 sets the class of the focused pixel to thevalue corresponding to the pattern of the pixel values of SD pixelsconstituting the class tap, for example, a predetermined number of SDpixels, and outputs the class to the coefficient RAM 45 as an address.

Specifically, the class classification circuit 44 outputs, for example,the value corresponding to the pattern of the pixel values offour-by-four, 16, SD pixels around the focused pixel, serving as theclass tap, as shown in FIG. 10, as the class of the focused pixel.

When the pixel value of each SD pixel is indicated by many bits such aseight bits, the number of the patterns of the pixel values of 16 SDpixels is as enormous as (2⁸)¹⁶ and subsequent quick processing isdifficult.

As preprocessing of class classification, processing for reducing thenumber of the bits of each SD pixel constituting a class tap, forexample, the ADRC processing, can be applied to the class tap. Thisprocessing needs to reduce the number of bits, and may be quantizationprocessing by the use of a quantization table.

When the ADRC processing is applied and the value of each pixelconstituting the class tap is indicated by one bit, the number of thepatterns of the pixel values of 16 SD pixels becomes (2¹)¹⁶, which isvery much smaller than that obtained when the ADRC processing is notperformed.

The coefficient RAM 45 stores the prediction coefficients of each classobtained when the real-time learning section 1 performs real-timelearning. When the class classification circuit 44 sends a class, theprediction coefficients stored at the address corresponding to the classare read and sent to the prediction operation circuit 46. Thecoefficient RAM 45 updates the storage contents every time the real-timelearning section 1 sends the prediction coefficients of each class.Before the real-time learning section 1 sends the first predictioncoefficients to the coefficient RAM 45, the coefficient RAM 45 storesthe predetermined initial values of the prediction coefficients of eachclass.

The prediction operation circuit 46 uses the prediction coefficients w,w₂, . . . of the class of the focused pixel sent from the coefficientRAM 45 and the prediction tap x₁, x₂, . . . sent from the prediction-tapgeneration circuit 43 to perform the operation indicated by theexpression (12). The prediction value E[y] of the focused pixel “y” isobtained and output as the pixel value of an HD pixel.

On the other hand, in the real-time learning section 1, the frame memory21 temporarily stores an HD image input to the frame memory 21 as inputlearning data, for example, in units of frames. The thinning-out circuit22 reads an HD image which is to serve as master data “y” inprediction-coefficient real-time learning from the frame memory 21,thins out pixels from the HD image to change it to an SD image, andsends to the frame memory 23. The frame memory 23 temporarily stores theSD image sent from the thinning-out circuit 22.

The class-tap generation circuit 24 and the prediction-tap generationcircuit 25 extract the class tap and the prediction tap of the focusedpixel, respectively, from SD pixels constituting the SD image stored inthe frame memory 23 in the same way as the class-tap generation circuit42 and the prediction-tap generation circuit 43, and send to the classclassification circuit 26, the adder 27, and the adder 29.

The class classification circuit 26 performs class classificationaccording to the class tap sent from the class-tap generation circuit24, obtains the class of the focused pixel, and sends it to theprediction-tap memory 28 and to the master-data memory 30 as an address,in the same way as the class classification circuit 44.

The adder 27 reads stored values at the address corresponding to theclass output from the class classification circuit 26, that is, theoperation results corresponding to the multipliers of the predictioncoefficients “w” in the expressions (18), from the prediction-tap memory28, and adds the stored values to the multipliers of the predictioncoefficients “w” calculated from the SD pixels constituting theprediction tap sent from the prediction-tap generation circuit 25 toperform the operation corresponding to the summation (Σ) serving as themultiplier of the prediction coefficient “w” at the left side of each ofthe normal equations (18). The adder 27 stores the operation result inthe prediction-tap memory 28 at the address corresponding to the classoutput from the class classification circuit 26, in a writing-overmanner.

The prediction-tap memory 28 reads a stored value at the addresscorresponding to the class output from the class classification circuit26, sends it to the adder 27, and stores the output of the adder 27 atthe address.

The adder 29 reads the master data serving as the focused pixel amongthe HD pixels constituting the HD image stored in the frame memory 21;the SD pixels sent from the prediction-tap generation circuit 25; and astored value at the address corresponding to the class output from theclass classification circuit 26, that is, the multiplication results ofthe focused pixel and the SD pixels corresponding to the right side ofeach of the expressions (18), from the master data memory 30, and addsthe stored value to the multiplication result of the focused pixel readfrom the frame memory 21 and the SD pixels sent from the prediction-tapgeneration circuit 25 to perform the operation corresponding to thesummation (Σ) at the right side of each of the normal equations (18).The adder 29 stores the operation result in the master-data memory 30 atthe address corresponding to the class output from the classclassification circuit 26, in a writing-over manner.

In other words, the adders 27 and 29 perform multiplication shown in theexpressions (18). Since the right side of each of the expressions (18)includes the multiplication of the master data “y” and an SD pixel “x,”the SD pixel “x” is required for the multiplication performed by theadder 29, in addition to the master data “y”.

The master-data memory 30 reads a stored value at the addresscorresponding to the class output from the class classification circuit26, sends it to the adder 29, and stores the output of the adder 29 atthe address.

The operation circuit 31 sequentially reads stored values at the addresscorresponding to each class from the prediction-tap memory 28 and themaster-data memory 30, formulates the normal equations shown in theexpressions (18), and solves the equations to obtain the predictioncoefficients in each class. Specifically, the operation circuit 31 usesthe stored values at the address corresponding to each class from, theprediction-tap memory 28 and the master-data memory 30 to formulate thenormal equations shown in the expressions (18), solves the equations toobtain the prediction coefficients in each class, and sends them to thecoefficient RAM 45.

The processing of the data processing section 2 shown in FIG. 9 will bedescribed next by referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 11. Theoperation of each circuit is controlled by a controller not shown.

The data processing section 2 receives the SD image serving as the inputdata to be processed. The frame memory 41 sequentially stores the SDimage serving as the input data to be processed, for example, in unitsof frames.

In the data processing section 2, in a step S21, the class-tapgeneration circuit 42 and the prediction-tap generation circuit 43 readSD pixels disposed around an HD pixel for which a prediction value is tobe obtained by tuning processing, from the frame memory 41 to configurea class tap and a prediction tap, respectively. The class tap and theprediction tap are sent to the class classification circuit 44 and theprediction operation circuit 46, respectively.

When the class classification circuit 44 receives the class tap from theclass-tap generation circuit 42, it obtains the class of the focusedpixel according to the class tap and sends it to the coefficient RAM 45as an address in a step S22. The coefficient RAM 45 reads predictioncoefficients stored at the address corresponding to the class sent fromthe class classification circuit 44, and sends it to the predictionoperation circuit 46 in a step S23.

The prediction operation circuit 46 uses the prediction tap sent fromthe prediction-tap generation circuit 43 and the prediction coefficientssent from the coefficient RAM 45 to perform the operation shown in theexpression (12) in a step S24. The prediction value E[y] of the focusedpixel “y” is obtained and the processing proceeds to a step S25. In thestep S25, the prediction-coefficient operation circuit 46 outputs theprediction value E[y] of the focused pixel “y” obtained in the step S24as the pixel value of an HD pixel, and the processing proceeds to a stepS26.

In the step S26, it is determined whether all the HD pixels constitutingthe one-frame HD image corresponding to a one-frame SD image stored inthe frame memory 41 have been processed as focused pixels. When it isdetermined that all the HD pixels have not yet been processed, theprocessing returns to the step S21 and the same processing is repeatedwith an HD pixel not yet serving as a focused pixel being handled as afocused pixel.

On the other hand, in the step S26, when it is determined that all theHD pixels constituting the one-frame HD image have been processed asfocused pixels, the processing is terminated.

The processing illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 11 is performed, forexample, every time a new SD image is stored in the frame memory 41.

Next, the processing of the real-time learning section 1 shown in FIG. 9will be described by referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 12. Theoperation of each circuit is controlled by a controller not shown.

The real-time learning section 1 receives an HD image serving as inputlearning data. The frame memory 21 sequentially stores the HD imageserving as the input learning data, for example, in units of frames.

In a step S31, the thinning-out circuit 22 reads the HD image stored inthe frame memory 21 and thins out pixels from the HD image to change itto an SD image. This SD image is sent to the frame memory 23 and storedin it.

When the SD image is stored in the frame memory 23, the class-tapgeneration circuit 24 and the prediction-tap generation circuit 25 useSD pixels constituting the SD image stored in the frame memory 23 toconfigure the class tap and the prediction tap of the focused pixel, apredetermined pixel among HD pixels constituting the HD image stored inthe frame memory 21, from SD pixels disposed around the focused pixel,respectively, and send to the class classification circuit 26, the adder27, and the adder 29 in a step S32.

In a step S33, the class classification circuit 26 uses the class tapsent from the class-tap generation circuit 24 to perform classclassification, obtains the class corresponding to the focused pixel,and sends it to the prediction-tap memory 28 and to the master-datamemory 30 as an address.

The processing proceeds to a step S34, and the prediction tap and themaster data are added to respective related values.

Specifically, in the step S34, the prediction-tap memory 28 reads astored value at the address corresponding to the class output from theclass classification circuit 26 and sends it to the adder 27. The adder27 adds the stored value sent from the prediction-tap memory 28 to themultiplication results of the predetermined SD pixels constituting theprediction tap sent from the prediction-tap generation circuit 25 toperform the operation corresponding to the summation (Σ) serving as themultiplier of the prediction coefficient at the left side of each of thenormal equations (18). The adder 27 stores the operation result in theprediction-tap memory 28 at the address corresponding to the classoutput from the class classification circuit 26, in a writing-overmanner.

In the step S34, the master-data memory 30 reads a stored value at theaddress corresponding to the class output from the class classificationcircuit 26 and sends it to the adder 29. The adder 29 reads the focusedpixel among the HD pixels constituting the HD image stored in the framememory 21 as master data (further reads the predetermined SD pixelsconstituting the prediction tap sent from the prediction-tap generationcircuit 25); and adds the multiplication results of the master data andthe predetermined SD pixels to the stored value sent from themaster-data memory 30 to perform the operation corresponding to thesummation (Σ) at the right side of each of the normal equations (18).The adder 29 stores the operation result in the master-data memory 30 atthe address corresponding to the class output from the classclassification circuit 26, in a writing-over manner.

Then, the processing proceeds to a step S35, and it is determinedwhether all the HD pixels constituting the one-frame HD image stored inthe frame memory 21 have been processed as focused pixels. When it isdetermined that all the HD pixels have not yet been processed, theprocessing returns to the step S32 and the same processing is repeatedwith an HD pixel not yet serving as a focused pixel being handled as afocused pixel.

On the other hand, in the step S35, when it is determined that all theHD pixels constituting the one-frame HD image have been processed asfocused pixels, the processing proceeds to a step S36. The operationcircuit 31 sequentially reads stored values at the address correspondingto each class from the prediction-tap memory 28 and the master-datamemory 30, formulates the normal equations shown in the expressions(18), and solves the equations to obtain the prediction coefficients ineach class. In addition, the operation circuit 31 sends the obtainedprediction coefficients of each class to the coefficient RAM 45 andstores them in it, and the processing is terminated.

With these operations, the prediction coefficients of each class storedin the coefficient RAM 45 are updated every time the processing shown inthe flowchart of FIG. 12 is performed.

The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12 is performed, forexample, every time a new HD image is stored in the frame memory 21.

In the learning processing of prediction coefficients performed in thereal-time learning section 1, as described above, when the requirednumber of normal equations for obtaining prediction coefficients cannotbe obtained in a class, prediction coefficients stored in thecoefficient RAM 45 are, for example, not updated and the predictioncoefficients specified first is used as is in the processing of the dataprocessing section 2 for the class.

The processing shown in each of the flowcharts of FIGS. 11 and 12 isperformed in parallel.

As described above, the storage contents of the prediction-tap memory 28and the master-data memory 30 are not reset; the prediction tap and themaster data are added to respective related values; the normal equations(18) are formulated with the use of the addition results; and theprediction coefficients of each class are obtained in real time in thereal-time learning section 1. As a result, the prediction coefficientsof each class become more appropriate for the SD image serving as theinput data to be processed as learning processing is performed with theuse of the HD image serving as input learning data. Therefore, the SDimage is adaptively processed and the HD image obtained by theprocessing is improved every moment as learning proceeds. Morespecifically, the resolution and other factors of the HD image to beoutput from the data processing section 2 are improved every moment.

In the real-time learning section 1, the prediction tap can be added toa related value in the adder 27 after at least one of the stored valuesent from the prediction-tap memory 28 and the multiplication results ofthe predetermined SD pixels constituting the prediction tap sent fromthe prediction-tap generation circuit 25 is multiplied by apredetermined weight. When the adder 27 multiplies the stored value sentfrom the prediction-tap memory 28 by a weight smaller than themultiplication results of the predetermined SD pixels constituting theprediction tap sent from the prediction-tap generation circuit 25, thereal-time learning section 1 can learn prediction coefficients while anHD image serving as past input learning data is ignored at apredetermined rate. When the adder 27 performs the above-describedweighting, the same weighting operation is necessary for the addition inthe adder 29.

In addition, when the above-described weight (ignoring) is employed, thereal-time learning section 1 can be configured such that the S/N ratiois determined from a signal in the blanking period in TV broadcasting;and a weight for an obtained prediction tap is increased when the S/Nratio is high, and a weight for an obtained prediction tap is reducedwhen the S/N ratio is low. In this case, the real-time learning section1 can perform learning with a noise effect being reduced.

The real-time learning section 1 is configured such that a change inscene is detected and a weight applied to the stored value sent from theprediction-tap memory 28 is set to zero when the scene is changed. Inthis case, when the scene is changed, the real-time learning section 1ignores all past learning and restarts learning from the beginning.Therefore, immediately after the scene is changed, the image quality ofthe HD image output from the data processing section 2 deteriorates, butthe image quality of the HD image output from the data processingsection 2 is improved every moment as learning in the real-time learningsection 1 proceeds.

In the above case, the SD image serving as the input data to beprocessed and the HD image serving as the input learning data having thesame contents as the SD image are broadcasted together. The SD imageserving as the input data to be processed and the HD image serving asthe input learning data can be broadcasted at different timing. In thiscase, it is necessary for the image processing apparatus 200 shown inFIG. 9 to send the SD image serving as the input data to be processed tothe data processing section 2 when it is received and to send the HDimage serving as the input learning data to the real-time learningsection 1 when it is received.

FIG. 13 shows an example structure of an image processing apparatus 300to which the self-tuning processing circuit shown in FIG. 2 is applied,according to another embodiment. The same symbols as those used in FIG.9 are assigned to the portions corresponding to those in FIG. 9, and thedescriptions thereof will be omitted, if unnecessary.

Also in this image processing apparatus 300, class classification tuningprocessing is performed to convert an SD image to an HD image in thesame way as in the image processing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 9. Inthe image processing apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 9, the structures of aclass tap and a prediction tap are fixed to four-by-four SD pixelsaround a focused pixel as shown in FIG. 10, and real-time learning isapplied only to the prediction coefficients of each class. In the imageprocessing apparatus shown in FIG. 13, however, real-time learning isapplied not only to the prediction coefficients of each class but to thestructures of a class tap and a prediction tap.

Specifically, a real-time learning section 1 shown in FIG. 13 includes aframe memory 21, a thinning-out circuit 22, a frame memory 23, afeature-amount extraction circuit 51, a tap-candidate generation circuit52, N learning processing sections 53 ₁ to 53 _(N), and a determinationcircuit 54.

The feature-amount extraction circuit 51 reads an SD image obtained bythinning out pixels from an HD image serving as input learning data andstored in a frame memory 23, extracts a feature amount of the SD image,and sends it to the tap-candidate generation circuit 52.

More specifically, the feature-amount extraction circuit 51, forexample, calculates correlation of an SD pixel, a pixel to be processed,constituting the SD image stored in the frame memory 23 with an SD pixeldisposed in the vicinity in terms of space and time of the pixel to beprocessed, one after another. The feature-amount extraction circuit 51obtains the average of the correlation of all SD pixels constituting theSD image stored in the frame memory 23 as a feature amount of the SDimage, and sends it to the tap-candidate generation circuit 52.

The tap-candidate generation circuit 52 generates the structures of aplurality of class taps and prediction taps as class-tap andprediction-tap candidates according to the feature amount sent from thefeature-amount extraction circuit 51.

Specifically, the tap-candidate generation circuit 52 generatesclass-tap and prediction-tap candidates using many SD pixels disposed inthe vicinity of the focused pixel when the SD image has a highlycorrelated feature amount. Hereinafter, a class tap and a prediction tapare collectively called a tap, if necessary. The tap-candidategeneration circuit 52 generates tap candidates also using an SD pixeldisposed relatively distant from the focused pixel when the SD image hasa low correlated feature amount. More specifically, for example, whenthe SD image has a highly correlated feature amount, tap candidatesusing SD pixels adjacent to each other are generated, and when the SDimage has a low correlated feature amount, tap candidates using SDpixels disposed at an interval of some pixels (such as one pixel or twopixels) are generated.

A plurality of tap candidates are generated, for example, by preparing astandard tap structure for an SD-image feature amount and by widening ornarrowing the interval of SD pixels in one or more directions among thehorizontal direction, the vertical direction, and the time-domaindirection. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, taps are configured withSD pixels disposed against the focused pixel in the space-domaindirection. Taps can be configured with the use of SD pixels disposedagainst the focused pixel in the time-domain direction.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, N tap candidates are generated andeach of the N tap candidates is sent to the corresponding section amongthe learning processing sections 53 ₁ to 53 _(N) in the tap-candidategeneration circuit 52. More specifically, for example, when informationindicating the structure of the n-th (n=1, 2, . . . , N) tap candidateamong the N tap candidates is called tap-structure information #n, thetap-structure information #n is sent to the learning processing section53 _(n).

The learning processing section 53 _(n) receives the HD image and the SDimage stored in the frame memory 21 and the frame memory 23 as well asthe tap-structure information #n. The learning processing section 53_(n) configures a class tap and a prediction tap having the structurecorresponding to the tap-structure information #n, and obtains theprediction coefficients of each class in the same way as in thereal-time learning section 1 shown in FIG. 9. The learning processingsection 53 _(n) applies class classification tuning processing to the SDimage sent from the frame memory 23 with the use of the predictioncoefficients of each class to convert the SD image to an HD image. Then,the learning processing section 53 n obtains a prediction error betweenthe converted HD image and the HD image stored in the frame memory 21and sends it to the determination circuit 54, together with theprediction coefficients of each class obtained by learning and thetap-structure information #n sent from the tap-candidate generationcircuit 52.

The determination circuit 54 detects the minimum value among theprediction errors sent from the learning processing sections 53 ₁ to 53_(N), sends to the coefficient RAM 45 the prediction coefficients ofeach class output from the learning processing section, the mostappropriate learning processing section, which sends the minimumprediction error among the learning processing sections 53 ₁ to 53 _(N),and sends the tap-structure information output from the most appropriatelearning processing section to a class-tap generation circuit 42 and aprediction-tap generation circuit 43.

FIG. 14 shows an example structure of the learning processing section 53_(n) shown in FIG. 13.

The learning processing section 53 _(n) is formed of aprediction-coefficient learning section 61, a class-classificationtuning processing section 62, and a prediction-error calculation section63. The prediction-coefficient learning section 61 receives the HD imagefrom the frame memory 21, the SD image from the frame memory 23, and thetap-structure information #n from the tap-candidate generation circuit52. The class-classification tuning processing section 62 receives theSD image from the frame memory 23, the tap-structure information #n fromthe tap-candidate generation circuit 52, and the prediction coefficientssent from the prediction-coefficient learning section 61. Theprediction-error calculation section 63 receives the HD image from theframe memory 21 and the prediction value sent from theclass-classification tuning processing section 62.

The prediction-coefficient learning section 61 uses a class tap and aprediction tap having the structure corresponding to the tap-structureinformation #n to obtain the prediction coefficients of each class bylearning according to the HD image and the SD image in the same way asin the real-time learning section 1 shown in FIG. 9, and sends them tothe class-classification tuning processing section 62. The predictioncoefficients of each class obtained by the prediction-coefficientlearning section 61 are also sent to the determination circuit 54.

The class-classification tuning processing section 62 performsclass-classification tuning processing with the use of the predictioncoefficients of each class sent from the prediction-coefficient learningsection 61 in the same way as in the data processing section 2 in FIG. 9to obtain the prediction value of an HD pixel from SD pixelsconstituting the SD image, and sends the prediction value to theprediction-error calculation section 63.

The prediction-error calculation section 63 obtains a prediction errorsuch as the sum square of the differences between an HD pixelconstituting the HD image stored in the frame memory 21 and theprediction value of the HD pixel sent from the class-classificationtuning processing section 62 corresponding to the HD pixel in the HDimage and sends it to the determination circuit 54.

The learning processing section 53 _(n) sends the tap-structureinformation #n sent from the tap-candidate generation circuit 52 to thedetermination circuit 54, in addition to the prediction coefficients ofeach class and the prediction error obtained therein.

FIG. 15 shows an example structure of the prediction-coefficientlearning section 61 shown in FIG. 14.

The prediction-coefficient learning section 61 is formed of a class-tapgeneration circuit 71, a prediction-tap generation circuit 72, a classclassification circuit 73, an adder 74, a prediction-tap memory 75, anadder 76, a master-data memory 77, and an operation circuit 78, whichare configured in the same way as the class-tap generation circuit 24,the prediction-tap generation circuit 25, the class classificationcircuit 26, the adder 27, the prediction-tap memory 28, the adder 29,the master-data memory 30, and the operation circuit 31 shown in FIG. 9.

The class-tap generation circuit 71 and the prediction-tap generationcircuit 72 receive the SD image stored in the frame memory 23, and theadder 76 receives the HD image stored in the frame memory 21 andpredetermined SD pixels sent from the prediction-tap generation circuit72. The prediction coefficients of each class are obtained in the sameway as in the real-time learning processing section 1 shown in FIG. 9.

The class-tap generation circuit 71 and the prediction-tap generationcircuit 72 also receive the tap-structure information #n output from thetap-candidate generation circuit 52. The class-tap generation circuit 71and the prediction-tap generation circuit 72 configure a class tap and aprediction tap having the structure corresponding to the tap-structureinformation #n, respectively.

In the present embodiment, the class tap has the same structure as theprediction tap. The class tap and the prediction tap can have differentstructures.

FIG. 16 shows an example structure of the class-classification tuningprocessing section 62 shown in FIG. 14.

The class-classification tuning processing section 62 is formed of aclass-tap generation circuit 81, a prediction-tap generation circuit 82,a class classification circuit 83, a coefficient RAM 84, and aprediction operation circuit 85 which are configured in the same way asthe class-tap generation circuit 42, the prediction-tap generationcircuit 43, the class classification circuit 44, the coefficient RAM 45,and the prediction operation circuit 46 shown in FIG. 9, respectively.

The class-tap generation circuit 81 and the prediction-tap generationcircuit 82 receive the SD image stored in the frame memory 23, and thecoefficient RAM 84 receives the prediction coefficients of each classobtained by the operation circuit 78 of the prediction-coefficientlearning section 61 shown in FIG. 15. The SD image is converted to an HDimage with the use of the prediction coefficients of each class storedin the coefficient RAM 84 in the same way as in the data processingsection 2 shown in FIG. 9.

The class-tap generation circuit 81 and the prediction-tap generationcircuit 82 also receive the tap-structure information #n output from thetap-candidate generation circuit 52. The class-tap generation circuit 81and the prediction-tap generation circuit 82 configure a class tap and aprediction tap having the structure corresponding to the tap-structureinformation #n, respectively, namely, the same structure as the classtap and the prediction tap which the class-tap generation circuit 71 andthe prediction-tap generation circuit 72 shown in FIG. 15 configure,respectively.

The processing of the real-time learning section 1 shown in FIG. 13 willbe described next by referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 17. Theoperation of each circuit is controlled by the controller not shown.

The real-time learning section 1 receives an HD image serving as inputlearning data. The frame memory 21 sequentially stores the HD imageserving as the input learning data, for example, in units of frames.

In a step S41, the thinning-out circuit 22 reads the HD image stored inthe frame memory 21 and thins out pixels from the HD image to change itto an SD image. This SD image is sent to the frame memory 23 and storedin it.

When the SD image is stored in the frame memory 23, the feature-amountextraction circuit 51 extracts the feature amount of the SD image sentfrom the frame memory 23 and sends it to the tap-candidate generationcircuit 52, in a step S42. In a step S43, the tap-candidate generationcircuit 52 generates N tap candidates according to the feature amountsent from the feature-amount extraction circuit 51 and sends thetap-structure information #1 to #N indicating the structures of thegenerated tap candidates to the learning processing sections 53 ₁ to 53_(N).

The class-tap generation circuit 71 and the prediction-tap generationcircuit 72 in the prediction-coefficient learning section 61 shown inFIG. 15 constituting the learning processing section 53 _(n) shown inFIG. 14 configure a class tap and a prediction tap with a predeterminedpixel among the HD pixels constituting the HD image stored in the framememory 21 being set to the focused pixel, having the structurecorresponding to the tap-structure information #n from the SD pixelsstored in the frame memory 21, respectively, and send to the classclassification circuit 73, the adder 74, and the adder 76 in a step S44.

In a step S45, the class classification circuit 73 uses the class tapsent from the class-tap generation circuit 71 to perform classclassification, obtains the class of the focused HD pixel, and sends itto the prediction-tap memory 28 and to the master-data memory 30 as anaddress.

On the other hand, the HD pixel serving as the focused pixel is readfrom the frame memory 21 and sent to the adder 76.

The processing proceeds to a step S46, and the adders 74 and 76 performadditions to generate each term of the normal expression (18) related tothe prediction tap and the master data, in the same way as in the stepS34 shown in FIG. 12. The addition results are sent to theprediction-tap memory 75 and the master-data memory 77, and stored inthem at the address corresponding to the class output from the classclassification circuit 73.

Then, it is determined in a step S47 whether ail the HD pixelsconstituting the one-frame HD image stored in the frame memory 21 havebeen processed as focused pixels. When it is determined that all the HDpixels have not yet been processed, the processing returns to the stepS44 and the same processing is repeated with an HD pixel not yet servingas a focused pixel being handled as a focused pixel.

On the other hand, in the step S47, when it is determined that all theHD pixels constituting the one-frame HD image have been processed asfocused pixels, the processing proceeds to a step S48. The operationcircuit 78 sequentially reads stored values at the address correspondingto each class from the prediction-tap memory 28 and the master-datamemory 30, formulates the normal equations shown in the expressions(18), and solves the equations to obtain the prediction coefficients ineach class. In addition, the operation circuit 78 sends the obtainedprediction coefficients of each class to the coefficient RAM 84 of theclass-classification tuning processing section 62 shown in FIG. 16 andstores them in it, namely, updates the storage contents of thecoefficient RAM 84.

The class-classification tuning processing section 62 performsclass-classification tuning processing with the use of the predictioncoefficients of each class stored in the coefficient RAM 84 to convertthe SD image stored in the frame memory 23 to an HD image (predictionvalues of the HD image stored in the frame memory 21) in a step S49.

Specifically, in the class-classification tuning processing section 62shown in FIG. 16, the class-tap generation circuit 81 and theprediction-tap generation circuit 82 configure a class tap and ageneration tap having the structure corresponding to the tap-structureinformation #n with the use of the SD pixels sent from the frame memory23, and sends them to the class classification circuit 83 and theprediction operation circuit 85, respectively.

The class classification circuit 83 obtains the class corresponding tothe focused pixel in the HD image according to the class tap sent fromthe class-tap generation circuit 81, and sends it to the coefficient RAM84 as an address. The coefficient RAM 84 reads prediction coefficientsstored at the address corresponding to the class sent from the classclassification circuit 83, and sends to the prediction operation circuit85.

The prediction operation circuit 85 performs the operation shown by theexpression (12) with the use of the prediction tap sent from theprediction-tap generation circuit 82 and the prediction coefficientssent from the coefficient RAM 84 to obtain the prediction value E[y] ofthe focused pixel “y” and sends it to the prediction-error calculationsection 63 shown in FIG. 14.

In a step S50, the prediction-error calculation section 63 obtains aprediction error between the prediction value E[y] output from theclass-classification tuning processing section 62 and the HD imagestored in the frame memory 21, and sends it to the determination circuit54 shown in FIG. 13 together with the prediction coefficients of eachclass output from the prediction-coefficient learning section 61 and thetap-structure information #n.

The determination circuit 54 detects the minimum value among theprediction errors sent from the learning processing sections 53 ₁ to 53_(N), in a step S51; and sends the prediction coefficients of each classoutput from the most appropriate learning processing section which hasobtained the minimum prediction error among the learning processingsections 53 ₁ to 53 _(N) to the coefficient RAM 45 of the dataprocessing section 2, and the tap-structure information output from themost appropriate learning processing section to the class-tap generationcircuit 42 and the prediction-tap generation circuit 43 of the dataprocessing section 2 in a step S52. Then, the processing is terminated.

The processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 17 is performed, forexample, every time a new HD image is stored in the frame memory 21.

In the data processing section 2 shown in FIG. 13, the storage contentsof the coefficient RAM 45 are updated by the prediction coefficients ofeach class sent from the determination circuit 54 of the real-timelearning section 1. The class-tap generation circuit 42 and theprediction-tap generation circuit 43 in the data processing section 2configure a class tap and a prediction tap having the structurecorresponding to the tap-structure information sent from the real-timelearning section 1, and the SD image is converted to an HD image in thesame way as in FIG. 9.

As described above, when the real-time learning section 1 learns thestructure of a class tap and a prediction tap in real time in additionto the prediction coefficients of each class, an HD image having afurther improved image quality is obtained.

Even when the real-time learning section 1 learns the structure of aclass tap in real time, if the above-described weight is introduced inthe step S46 of FIG. 17, where additions are made to the prediction tapand the master data of each class, the structure of the class tap can belearned while the HD image serving as past input learning data isignored at a predetermined rate.

When the structure of the class tap is learned in real time, since thestructure of the class tap configured for the focused pixel is changed,the class of the focused pixel, obtained as a result of classclassification performed according to the class tap, is also changed.

More specifically, for example, to simplify a description, assuming thateach SD pixel constituting a class tap is expressed by one bit, and thestructure of a class tap is changed, for example, to one of two cases, acase in which the class tap is formed of adjacent four-by-four SD pixelsaround the focused pixel, as shown in FIG. 10, and a case in which theclass tap is formed of four-by-four SD pixels disposed every otherpixels around the focused pixel, as shown in FIG. 18, the number ofclasses required is 2¹⁶+2¹⁶. When the class tap is formed offour-by-four SD pixels disposed every other pixels, the focused pixel isnot disposed at the center of the SD pixels. The HD focused pixel canbe, however, predicted when the real-time learning section 1 learns withthe same phase relationship.

In other words, when the class tap is either formed of the adjacentfour-by-four SD pixels around the focused pixel or formed of thefour-by-four SD pixels disposed every other pixels around the focusedpixel, the number of classes required is 2¹⁶ in either case. Incontrast, when the class tap can be formed of the adjacent four-by-fourSD pixels around the focused pixel and it can also be formed of thefour-by-four SD pixels disposed every other pixels around the focusedpixel, the number of classes required is 2¹⁶ for a case in which theclass tap is formed of the adjacent four-by-four SD pixels around thefocused pixel, plus 2¹⁶ for a case in which the class tap is formed ofthe four-by-four SD pixels disposed every other pixels around thefocused pixel.

Since 2¹⁶ classes required when the class tap is formed of the adjacentfour-by-four SD pixels around the focused pixel are different from 2¹⁶classes required when the class tap is formed of the four-by-four SDpixels disposed every other pixels around the focused pixel, when thestructure of the class tap is changed, how to perform the addition ofthe prediction tap in each class and the addition of the master data ineach class in the step S46 in FIG. 17, for example, becomes an issue.This can be performed, for example, in the following way.

Specifically, the number of classes which matches the total number ofclasses required for each structure of a class tap to be employed byreal-time learning are prepared in advance, and when a class tap havinga certain structure is employed, classes other than the classes assignedto the class tap having the structure are not used, namely, are ignored.

More specifically, when class taps to be employed by real-time learningare, for example, a first class tap formed of 10-by-10 SD pixels aroundthe focused pixel and a second class tap formed of four-by-four SDpixels around the focused pixel, as shown in FIG. 18, since 2¹⁰⁰ and 2¹⁶classes are required for the first and second class taps, respectively,2¹⁰⁰+2¹⁶ classes are prepared where each SD pixel is expressed by onebit. Among the 2¹⁰⁰+2¹⁶ classes, 2¹⁰⁰ and 2¹⁶ classes are assigned tothe first and second class taps, respectively. When the first class tapis employed, processing is performed only for the 2¹⁰⁰ classes assignedthereto. When the second class tap is employed, processing is performedonly for the 2¹⁶ classes assigned thereto.

When the structure of a prediction tap is changed, the predictioncoefficients “w” to be multiplied by SD pixels “x” constituting theprediction tap are also changed in the expression (12). The predictioncoefficients in the expressions (18) are also changed. To handle thisissue, prediction coefficients are prepared for all SD pixels which canbe prediction taps for the focused pixel, and the operation is performedwith the pixel values of SD pixels which are not employed as predictiontaps being set to zero among the pixel values of the SD pixels servingas multipliers in the expression (12) for the prediction coefficients.

It is also possible that the structure of a class tap is fixed andclasses required for the fixed class tap are streamlined by thereal-time learning section 1. Specifically, for example, when a classtap is formed of “A” SD pixels and each SD pixel constituting the classtap is expressed by “B” bits, (2^(A))^(B) classes are usually required.The image quality of an HD image output from the data processing section2 is improved in some cases when the real-time learning section 1eliminates a class or integrates a class and another class into oneclass. In other words, the same advantages as in a case when thestructure of the class tap is changed are achieved in some cases whenthe real-time learning section 1 streamlines classes. It is alsopossible that, for example, the real-time learning section 1 learnsclass-streamlining in real time such that the above-described predictionerror becomes small.

In the above case, the data processing section 2 performs linearprocessing. The present invention can also be applied to a case when thedata processing section 2 performs non-linear processing.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the learning processing section 53_(n) uses a class tap and a prediction tap having the structurecorresponding to the tap-structure information #n sent from thetap-candidate generation circuit 52 as is to obtain predictioncoefficients until new tap-structure information #n is received. Thelearning processing section 53 _(n) can be configured such that thefeature amount of a focused pixel, such as the correlation of SD pixelsdisposed around the focused pixel, is obtained, the class tap and theprediction tap having the structure corresponding to the tap-structureinformation #n is changed for each focused pixel to have a structurebased on the feature amount, and prediction coefficients are obtained.

In this case, for example, it is necessary to prepare many classescorrespondingly to the number of variations to which the class tap andthe prediction tap having the structure corresponding to thetap-structure information #n are modified. In the data processingsection 2, in the same way as in the above-described case, it isnecessary that the feature amount of a focused pixel is obtained, andthe class-tap generation circuit 42 and the prediction-tap generationcircuit 43 configure a class tap and a prediction tap having a structureobtained by modifying according to the feature amount the structurecorresponding the tap-structure information #n sent from thedetermination circuit 54. The feature amount can be anything indicatinga feature of SD pixels around the focused pixel, such as the DR,dispersion, or standard deviation of the SD pixels.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described by the circuitsshown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 13. Software which implements the function ofeach circuit by a program can be used.

The series of processing shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, and FIG. 17can be implemented by hardware or software. When the series ofprocessing is achieved by software, a program constituting the softwareis installed into a computer built in the NR processing apparatus 100and the image processing apparatuses 200 and 300 serving as specialhardware or into a general-purpose computer.

Recording media which store the program for executing the series ofprocessing described above will be described below by referring to FIGS.19A, 19B, and 19C. The program is installed into a computer and is madeexecutable by the computer.

The program is recorded in advance into a hard disk 102 or asemiconductor memory 103 serving as a recording medium which is built ina computer 101, as shown in FIG. 19A.

Alternatively, the program is recorded temporarily or perpetually intorecording media, such as a floppy disk 111, a compact disc read-onlymemory (CD-ROM) 112, a magneto-optical (MO) disk 113, a digitalversatile disk (DVD) 114, a magnetic disk 115, and a semiconductormemory 116, as shown in FIG. 19B.

The program is installed in the computer from the above-describedrecording medium. Alternatively, the program is transferred by radiofrom a downloading site 121 to the computer 101 through an artificialsatellite for digital satellite broadcasting, or to the computer 101 bywire through a network 131 such as a local area network (LAN) or theInternet; and is installed into the hard disk 102, built in the computer101, as shown in FIG. 19C.

In the present specification, the steps describing the programs forexecuting various types of processing are not necessarily processed in atime sequential manner in the order in which the steps are described inthe flowcharts. Processing to be executed in parallel or individually,such as parallel processing or processing by objects, is also included.

FIG. 20 shows an example structure of the computer 101 shown in FIG.19A.

The computer 101 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 142, as shownin FIG. 20. The CPU 142 is connected to an input and output interface145 through a bus 141. When the user operates an input section 147formed of a keyboard and a mouse to input a command through the inputand output interface 145, the CPU 142 executes a program stored in aread-only memory (ROM) 143 corresponding to the semiconductor memory 103shown in FIG. 19A. Alternatively, the CPU 142 loads into a random accessmemory (RAM) 144 a program stored in the hard disk 102; a programtransferred through the satellite 122 or the network 131, received by acommunication section 148, and installed into the hard disk 102; or aprogram read from the floppy disk 111, the CD-ROM 112, the MO disk 113,the DVD 114, or the magnetic disk 115 which is loaded into a drive 149,and installed into the hard disk 102; and executes it. The CPU 142outputs the processing result, for example, through the input and outputinterface 145 to a display section 146 formed of a liquid-crystaldisplay (LCD), as required.

1. A data processing apparatus for processing input data and outputtingthe processed data, comprising: a data processor for processing theinput data by a predetermined processing method and outputting theprocessed data as output data; an evaluator for evaluating an outputreliability; and a real-time learning unit for controlling learning ofthe processing method, such that the processing method is learned inreal time and said data processor processes the input data by thelearned processing method, such that the output data improves over time,wherein the processing method is learned by the real-time learning unitas a function of the output reliability, and the output data isdetermined before a current time.
 2. The data processing apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said real-time learning unit learns the processingmethod according to the input data and the output data.
 3. The dataprocessing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said real-time learning unitlearns the processing method according to time-sequentially inputlearning data.
 4. The data processing apparatus of claim 3, wherein saidreal-time learning unit learns the processing method according to datahaving a value within a predetermined range from the current value amongthe time-sequentially input learning data.
 5. The data processingapparatus of claim 3, wherein said real-time learning unit learns theprocessing method while said real-time learning unit ignores pastlearning data at a predetermined rate.
 6. The data processing apparatusof claim 1, further comprising: a classifier for classifying normalquality data according to a plurality of classes; a formulator forformulating equations for each class; and an output unit for solvingsaid equations and outputting prediction coefficients for each class. 7.A computer-readable medium storing a data processing method implementedby a computer for processing input data and outputting the processeddata, the method comprising the steps of: processing by the computer theinput data by a predetermined processing method and outputting theprocessed data as output data; evaluating by the computer an outputreliability; and learning by the computer the processing method in realtime such that as the input data is processed by the learned processingmethod, the output data is improved over time, wherein the processingmethod is learned as a function of the output reliability, and theoutput data is determined before a current time.
 8. A computer readablemedium for storing a computer controllable program for processing inputdata and outputting the processed data, the program comprising the stepsof: processing the input data by a predetermined processing method andoutputting the processed data as output data; evaluating outputreliability; and learning the processing method in real time so that theoutput data produced by processing the input data is improved over time,wherein said processing method is learned as a function of the evaluatedoutput reliability, and whereby the output data is determined before acurrent time.